| WHIRLPOOLS AND AIRSPAS (Jacuzzi and | | | | commonly held belief that this type of system is |
| Airbath):There are two type of hydro massage | | | | unhygienic. |
| bathing systems:1. Whirlpools, more commonly known | | | | This is both true and untrue! I will explain. All |
| by the brand name Jacuzzi.2. Airspas, more commonly | | | | massage systems require cleaning from time to time. |
| known by the brand name Airbath.Whirlpools are | | | | Because of the design some systems may need to |
| characterised by having jets on the side of the bath | | | | be cleaned every 3 months. All good manufacturers |
| about half way up and a suction point (similar to a | | | | will supply a cleaner designed for their type of |
| colander) in one of the bottom corners. This type of | | | | system and advice on how to use it. The main |
| system produces hydro-massage by sucking water | | | | problem is that people do not follow the cleaning |
| from the bath and pumping it out of the jets on the | | | | regime and as such problems then ensue. The |
| side under pressure. To increase the pressure of the | | | | system is as hygienic as the user. You would never |
| jets most whirlpools have a control on the top of the | | | | dream of not cleaning the toilet or basin so why |
| bath which allows air to be sucked in to the jet of | | | | assume that the massage bath has the ability to |
| water.The main difference between a whirlpool and a | | | | clean itself.STEAM AND SAUNAS (Turkish and |
| Jacuzzi is that the size of the jets is bigger on the | | | | Swedish):Turkish steam sauna's and Swedish dry heat |
| Jacuzzi and the air and water mix is different. This | | | | sauna's are both types of hydro-massage system. |
| difference produces a more powerful jet of water | | | | The difference is in the way they achieve the |
| with the Jacuzzi (whether this amount of power is | | | | effect.Swedish dry saunas use dry air to heat the |
| necessary with a standard domestic sized bath is a | | | | body to high temperatures causing you to perspire |
| matter of opinion).The difficulty with all whirlpools is | | | | heavily. They are supplied in the form of a wooden |
| that they hold a small amount of water in the jets | | | | box inside of which is sited an oven upon which sit |
| and pipe work when emptied. Depending on who fits | | | | hot coals. These coals produce more heat when a |
| the system this amount can vary between an egg | | | | small amount of water is splashed on them and the |
| cup full and several pints. | | | | humidity increases. As people we can stand quite high |
| The second difficulty with some whirlpools is that | | | | temperatures of dry heat but only relatively smaller |
| not all baths are designed to have them fitted. This | | | | amounts of heat in high humidity. The average |
| can result in the jets being sited very high up the | | | | temperature within a Swedish sauna can be over 100 |
| sides of the bath, with the effect that when you lay | | | | degrees.Turkish steam saunas produce steam in large |
| in the bath the jets of water do not hit you but | | | | amounts to cause the hydro-massage effect and, like |
| spray over the top of you and only agitate the top | | | | the Swedish type, also make you perspire heavily. |
| one inch of water. This will result in a longer bathing | | | | This is wet heat and as such achieves the desired |
| period required to achieve the hydro-massage effect. | | | | effect at much lower temperatures. This can be as |
| | | | little as 40 degrees and is seldom higher than 50 |
| Baths where the jet positions are moulded into the | | | | degrees. The main difference between the two |
| side allows the jets to sit lower and so intensify the | | | | systems is that the steam system appears to be |
| massage. With this type of system it is not advisable | | | | less of an irritant to the breathing and as such is |
| that small children or older people are left unattended | | | | better in general for those suffering from respiratory |
| whilst in the bath.The third difficulty with whirlpools of | | | | conditions where a moist atmosphere is beneficial. |
| all types is that they do not have the ability to | | | | You may have experienced this as a child if, when |
| maintain the water temperature. The result of this is | | | | suffering from a cold, you were told to put your |
| that the average length of time a bath stays warm | | | | head over a bowl of steaming water and than had a |
| is approximately 30 minutes. That is unless you add | | | | towel placed over you.HYDRO-MASSAGE |
| more hot water. Dependant on the type of whirlpool | | | | EFFECT:The Hydro-massage effect has never been |
| system you choose it may take between 10 minutes | | | | proved to be a scientific fact. This effect cannot |
| and 25 minutes to achieve the hydro-massage effect | | | | make the blind see, the lame walk, cure aids or |
| on the body.Airspas are characterised by having a | | | | prevent cancer. It is claimed by many however to |
| series of jets or holes fitted/drilled into the base of | | | | provide relief from the effects of many debilitating |
| the bath. They produce air through the jets under | | | | conditions.The Hydro-massage effect is the action of |
| pressure to fill the bath with bubbling water. This | | | | the heat and or movement of the water on the |
| agitation of the water is what causes the | | | | body. The result of this is two fold. The first is that it |
| hydro-massage effect. The difficulty of this type of | | | | causes the muscles around the arteries and heart to |
| system is that it has a tendency to cool the water in | | | | relax. This in turn allows the heart to pump more |
| the bath. It is possible to with this type of system to | | | | blood with each beat, without pumping any harder. |
| have any level of water in the bath whilst the | | | | The result of this is increased and improved |
| system is in use and so makes it ideal for children | | | | circulation. Improved circulation is of benefit in many |
| and older people. However due to the reduced | | | | conditions. It reduces inflammation around the joint of |
| pressure of the air jets over the whirlpool jets it can | | | | those suffering from arthritis and rheumatism and |
| take longer to produce the hydro-massage effect. | | | | allows for the removal of stress causing toxins from |
| The Airbath system has a device called a Warm Air | | | | the blood stream by improving kidney function.The |
| Injection which allows a small amount of hot water | | | | second effect is that when fully relaxed the body |
| to heat the air stream as the air is pumped through | | | | produces its own chemical relaxants such as |
| the jets. The result of this is that Airbath claim that | | | | noradrenalin. These natural relaxants have none of |
| the system will | | | | the side effects of the manufactured kind and enable |
| maintain the bath water temperature. This then | | | | you to totally chill out.Written by Neal Baker on |
| allows a person to stay in the bath for longer and so | | | | behalf of and |
| gain the full benefit of the hydro-massage.One | | | | |
| difficulty experienced by all massage baths to a | | | | online retailers of bathroom furniture, bathroom |
| greater or lesser extent is that of hygiene. There is a | | | | suites and Whirlpools and Spas in the UK. |